Krawietz and Mies lose in the Cologne final
The French Open winners Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies just missed their first tournament victory at home. For Mies, however, a childhood dream came true in Cologne.
by SID
last edit: Oct 25, 2020, 06:09 pm
The home win was within reach, but then Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies found their champions: Two weeks after the sensational title defense at the French Open, Germany's best tennis doubles in the final in Cologne were defeated by the South African-Japanese duo Raven Klaasen and Ben McLachlan 2: 6, 4: 6, in the fifth final on the professional tour it was the first defeat for "KraMies".
Despite the final shock, a dream came true, especially for Mies (30), with the start of the tournament in the Lanxess Arena. "As a child I saw ice hockey here, was in a Klitschko fight, at the Laughing Cologne Arena - I always wanted to play here," he said before the final.
Mies can live with the fact that the coronation did not take place on the evening of a memorable week, especially since the final was a very one-sided affair. Klaasen and McLachlan presented themselves surprisingly well-rehearsed, although they only got together for the tournament in Cologne. Krawietz / Mies have long been in perfect harmony, but played below their potential on Sunday - very different than in Paris.
The Coburg Krawietz (28) and Mies had also benefited from the second triumph in Roland Garros in Cologne, with the self-confidence of double Grand Slam champions they entered the final without losing a set and also beat the Zverev brothers Alexander and Mischa on their way . Against Klaasen and McLachlan, former doubles partner of Warsteiner Jan-Lennard Struff, they braced themselves against the defeat, without spectators to support them, but they brought too few emotions to the field to turn the match.
Mies cheered himself and his partner Krawietz on loudly after successful rallies, but it wasn't enough for more than a break in the second set and a few minutes of hope. Krawietz immediately lost his serve and the German duo lost their first final on the professional tour.
The season is not over yet, however, and Krawietz and Mies still have an opportunity to transform the disappointment in Cologne's final into a year-end according to their wishes. The duo already had qualifications for the ATP season finale of the eight best doubles in London (from November 15) at the beginning of the week - for the second time since 2019. It is the reward for the outstanding performance in Paris and proof of " KraMies "'Constance.